Amar Singh takes swipe at BJP-Left ‘friendship’

New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh Tuesday took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its “new friendship” with the Left, saying their quarrel had finally ended. “I congratulate them now (that) the quarrel between the Red (Left parties) and saffron (BJP) has come to an end. They have become one,” Singh said at a press conference.

He also took a swipe at BJP leader L.K. Advani for calling him a “broker”.

“I accept all the abuses from Advaniji, who is a prospective prime ministerial candidate and a mature politician,” Singh said, adding he had “respect” for Advani and BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Advani had attacked the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Sunday, describing it as “pehle lal salaam tha, ab dalal salaam hai (first it saluted the Left, now it salutes brokers)”, referring to its alliance with the Samajwadi Party after the Communists ended their support.

Asked about Mukesh Ambani’s meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Samajwadi Party leader said: “He is a part of the PM’s Economic Advisory Council and has all the rights to meet anybody.

“He had recently met (West Bengal Chief Minister) Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Jyoti Basu also. So it should not be interpreted in a wrong manner,” Singh added.

Amar Singh also spoke out against Petroleum Minister Murli Deora.

“Murli Deora should not continue as the petroleum minister because of his proximity with a particular industrial house,” he said on the issue of windfall tax.

“If I ever become a minister, I will not take up telecom or the information and broadcasting ministry as I have relations with Anil Ambani and Amitabh Bachchan.”